To Mow or Not to Mow?

29th May 202329th May 2023 Graham Wright

Many lawns, verges and public spaces in Ruddington are a little ‘wilder’ at the moment – as ‘No Mow May’ comes to an end. Promoted each year by the charity ‘Plantlife’, the initiative encourages individuals and organisations to leave mowers in sheds during the month of May so that wildflowers among the grass can grow wild to provide a feast for pollinators, tackle pollution, and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground. The question is, should more of us leave more ground untended throughout the year, not just for these 31 days?…

Country Park Path Closures

27th May 202330th May 2023 Graham Wright

A major programme of works has been announced, taking place throughout this summer, to maintain and repair the network of pathways which criss-cross Rushcliffe Country Park. The popular Ruddington leisure facility welcomes hundreds of thousands of people each year – from our village and further afield. Its miles of paths will now be brought back up to standard from the resultant wear and tear ahead of the busy summer season. Rushcliffe Borough Council says its £45k capital investment will begin on Monday June 5th 2023 to improve the visitor experience and accessibility to…

‘The Big Swap Shop’ in Ruddington

25th May 202328th May 2023 Graham Wright

Recycling and re-using are at the heart of a special ‘pre-loved’ clothing event coming to our village next month. Ruddington’s award-winning Framework Knitters’ Museum is teaming up with ‘The Big Swap Shop’ to host a swap and ‘slow’ fashion event on Saturday 10th June from 6pm to 9pm. Organisers say it will be ‘family-friendly’ event, which will be held at the museum on Chapel Street. It will see a ‘twilight’ evening with a fashion mini market as well as local slow traders. Guests will also experience textile demonstrations and an…

Laura’s Leap for Ruddington School

23rd May 202325th May 2023 Graham Wright

An intrepid Ruddington mum is jumping out of a plane this summer – in a tandem skydive to help raise funds for a village charity close to her heart. Laura Ratcliffe is not only the founder of Ruddington Mums but also now the Chair of The Friends of St Peter’s Junior School – the group she has chosen to receive the cash. As she reaches two thirds of the way towards her £1000 fundraising target, she’s hoping RUDDINGTON.info readers can provide a final boost to get her there. “For my…

Bus Fares Rise – But Price Cap Extended

17th May 202317th May 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington’s main bus operator – which runs the Navy 3 and Green 10 services, in our village – has announced that new fares will be introduced on its services from Sunday 28th May 2023. Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is blaming the latest rises on significant increases in its costs – which the company says resulted in an operational loss during the last financial year. From the end of this month, NCT’s average bus fare will go up by 9.6% – slightly below the current UK inflation rate of 10.1%. However, the operator’s…

Coronation ‘Yarn Bomb’ Vandalised Again

14th May 202321st May 2023 Graham Wright

Public displays created and installed in our village by ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ – to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III – have been targeted for a second time. The imaginative and considerable efforts of numerous local knitters, pom-pom and tassle-makers, crocheters and sewists from the ‘Handmade in Rudd’ Facebook group and beyond have been widely praised and enjoyed. However, it seems someone is determined to spoil it for the majority. After their ‘Royal Couple’ postbox topper was hastily repaired by Ninja Christine Hawkins on the Friday before the Coronation – following her…

Educational Gifts for All Ruddington Eleven Year Olds

12th May 202312th May 2023 Graham Wright

Do you live in Ruddington and have a son or daughter with a birthday between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012 who attends a school outside the village? If so, they’re still eligible for some special gifts! It’s all thanks to James Peacock – who was born in Ruddington in 1585 before leaving for London when he was 14 years old as an apprentice to leather merchant Thomas Smith. James became a very successful businessman but, when he died in 1641, he had no children to leave his fortune…

Get Ready for ‘The Big Sing’

10th May 202323rd May 2023 RUDDINGTON.info

It’s been rather a long wait, partly due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Ruddington’s much loved singing festival is finally back this month. As before, the aim is to enjoy singing together, and anyone can take part, whether you can sing or not! ‘The Big Sing 2023’ is run by Ruddington Community Choir, who hope it will be a welcome boost to our village economy, too. Organisers estimate over 160 people will gather between 9am and 6pm on Saturday 20th May, with the event starting and ending at St Peter’s Church. Participants will…

Help Our Hedgehogs!

8th May 20238th May 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington wildlife lovers are being encouraged to take action to protect the red listed mammals – with ‘The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022’ report suggesting numbers have declined by 75% in some parts of our country since the year 2000. The increased use of fencing between houses, rather than hedges, has been partly blamed. Besides established hedgerows providing a ‘home’ for the spiky creatures, hedgehogs can also travel up to a mile each night through people’s gardens if the activity of humans still makes this possible. They need around a dozen gardens…

RuddFest 2023 is Looming!

7th May 20237th May 2023 Graham Wright

With all the excitement of the King’s Coronation, and its associated events here in Ruddington, plus ‘The Big Sing’, it might have escaped your attention that Ruddington’s famous annual beer and cider festival is ALSO happening this month? ‘Ruddfest 2023’ runs from Thursday 25th May until Sunday 28th May – just before the Spring Bank Holiday. The dates now move slightly each year, due to Ruddington Village Market being on The Green on the first Saturday of each month. This time over 100 beers and ciders are promised across participating venues.…